California Drive-Ins
California has 12 open drive-in theaters with 32 screens, from the San Francisco Bay Area down to the Mexican border. Most are concentrated in Southern California's Inland Empire and the greater Los Angeles area.
View All Drive-InsThe largest drive-ins are the two West Wind locations: Capitol in San Jose and Sacramento, each with six screens. In Southern California, Van Buren in Riverside and Rubidoux in Jurupa Valley each run three screens, and South Bay near Imperial Beach has three screens south of San Diego. Paramount on Rosecrans Avenue is the only drive-in left in Los Angeles County, with two 75-foot screens and Barco laser projection.
Several California drive-ins run year-round, taking advantage of the mild climate. Sunset Drive-In in San Luis Obispo and Rubidoux both show movies seven nights a week. Madera Drive-In in the Central Valley is the most seasonal, open only May through August. Skyline in Barstow runs March through January. Smith's Ranch in Twentynine Palms, near Joshua Tree, operates year-round but goes to weekends only in winter. Nearly all broadcast sound on FM radio.
Drive-Ins by City
California Drive-In Theaters
Capitol Drive-in Theatre
San Jose
A six-screen West Wind drive-in on Hillcap Avenue in San Jose, operating...
View Drive-InLakeport Auto Movie Theater
Lakeport
A single-screen drive-in on Soda Bay Road in Lakeport, near Clear Lake...
View Drive-InMadera Drive-in
Madera
A two-screen drive-in on East Lincoln Avenue in Madera, in California's Central...
View Drive-InParamount Twin Drive-in
Paramount
A two-screen drive-in on Rosecrans Avenue in Paramount, the only drive-in in...
View Drive-InRubidoux Drive-in
Jurupa Valley
A three-screen drive-in on Opal Street in Jurupa Valley, east of Los...
View Drive-InSkyline Drive-in
Barstow
A two-screen drive-in on Old Highway 58 in Barstow, right off Interstate...
View Drive-InSmith's Ranch Drive-in
Twentynine Palms
A single-screen drive-in on Adobe Road in Twentynine Palms, near Joshua Tree...
View Drive-InSouth Bay Drive-In
Imperial Beach
A three-screen drive-in on Coronado Avenue in Imperial Beach, just south of...
View Drive-InSunset Drive-in
San Luis Obispo
A single-screen drive-in on Elks Lane in San Luis Obispo, open since...
View Drive-InVan Buren Drive-in
Riverside
A three-screen drive-in on Van Buren Boulevard in Riverside, one of Southern...
View Drive-InWest Wind Sacramento Drive-in
Mayhew
A six-screen West Wind drive-in on Oates Drive in Sacramento, the largest...
View Drive-InWest Wind Solano Drive-in
Concord
A two-screen West Wind drive-in on Solano Way in Concord, in the...
View Drive-In